Man upset at burrito inflation starts standoff at Texas motel

Man upset at burrito inflation starts standoff at motel

Chronicle News Services |
March 21, 2011

The dispute that began with fast food brought out an extensive police presence in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO — A man who barricaded himself in a South Texas hotel in an apparent drive-thru fast-food dispute is expected to face three counts of attempted capital murder.

San Antonio police say nobody was hurt in the standoff that ended Sunday night.

Police say the customer, who allegedly was unhappy that the price of what he was ordering at Taco Bell had gone up, is accused of shooting an air gun at the restaurant manager, displaying a semiautomatic assault rifle and pistol, then exchanging gunfire with three officers.

The Express-News said the man was ordering seven Beefy Crunch Burritos and was surprised to learn that the price had gone from 99 cents to $1.49.

“They did use to be 99 cents, but that was just a promotion,” restaurant manager Brian Tillerson told the newspaper. “He pointed a gun at me, and he fired it. I leaned to the side and there was a pop but nothing happened.”

He drove away, but was captured after a three-hour standoff at the hotel.

Sgt. Chris Benavides says tear gas had to be used to get the man out of the room. The weapons were recovered.